The past few years have been a growing experience for me, and I feel I have changed. The greatest factor in my life-changes is that I was married to a gay man. Sharing that will help me, and I hope others won't feel so alone.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Getting asked "I'm married and I'm gay. What should I do?" or, "My husband is gay...What should I do?" are two of the hardest questions I am asked. Sometimes it's a married and closeted gay man, and sometimes it's from a wife who is straight, newly learning her husband is gay. I've met wonderful people on both sides of this question, and I'm not convinced there is only one right answer.

Multiple books are devoted to how others have solved their questions. (see insert below) Counselors address authentic living and self-acceptance. Fundamentalists insist that there ARE "no homosexuals, only heterosexuals - with issues." (my own punctuation for emphasis). Bloggers share their viewpoints and offer free advice. Needless to say, I cannot answer for anyone else besides myself, but I've tried to share my heartfelt emotions (on MY blog) as I've adjusted to the fact that I loved and married a gay man. So far, I don't have a book to sell. I only have my life and my opinions, and even those are subject to change.

When I'm asked that desperate question of "...what should I DO?" - I wonder how my answer will affect people. I've discovered that others will come to different conclusions than me. I've talked to couples who recognize that one partner is gay and they want to work things out and stay together monogamously. Others decide to open their marriage - and yes, some can do that and deal with the emotions that come with new definitions of marriage. Still others divorce, whether it's with contempt of with ongoing friendship. The choices are all new when a couple examines the value of staying together versus separating.

One thing that I believe is that once there is loss of trust in the relationship, re-establishing that trust is going to take time and effort. It may be that being gay was hidden from an unknowing spouse. It can extend to horrible unfaithfulness (and the lies that go with it) that break down the framework of married life. No matter where it is lost, trusting one another again is critical to go forward. And whether it's trusting a partner enough to honestly "come out" or proving trust is there enough to raise young children together - whatever the situation - deciding what to do is going to take all the "good emotions" that you might not know you had: love, patience, trust, acceptance, honesty, generosity. And that's just the short list, and it goes for both partners.

So far, I've been one of the lucky ones. I've come through divorce with my own home, grown kids, and the ability to choose whether to go back to work. Some women have young kids, or never have the chance to have kids. Some wives lose their home, and others have to find ways to support themselves from the ground up. Sure, there is a lot that I miss. On the other hand, I don't have to cook or clean after anyone but myself. I come and go as I please, and I never argue with myself over money! (keep it positive!) Yes, I've lost a lot, but I've discovered a lot of self-confidence. My shaken faith is re-building. I've learned to accept others without judging (on-going effort), and I have some true friends that I can't do without. Through this all, I still have my best friend.

So, really, What to DO when one spouse is gay, remains something only you can answer. My advice? Be honest. Live with authenticity. Decide how you want to live, and what is most important. Finally, let the good emotions prevail.

38 comments:

You were lucky. Ray didn't betray you like my ex did me. He cheated on me for 4 years before I found out he was gay, and once I confronted him, he continued. He was so careless he contracted HIV right before our divorce hearing. And it's all my fault, naturally. He has yet to accept any responsiblity for his promiscuous behavior and grumbles about my alimony and the marital assets he's had to split. He and his boyfriend (who's 10 years younger and blonde -- some things are the same if you're hetero or gay) live together now and are going to a resort for Valentine's Day. I let him keep the house because I couldn't afford it since I'd never worked in 35 years of marriage. So I'll be at home on Valentine's Day, watching Harry's Law on TV and wondering if I'll EVER be able to trust another man again.

God bless you for all you do to send out the true message about gay and lesbian individuals. My ex is so afraid his fundamental relatives are going to find out about him that he made me sign a gag order before he'd agree to the settlement. I figure the truth will come out eventually. Right now he's just hurting himself and sadly, our children. Our sons are so confused and angry and I resent that he's placed part of the blame on my shoulders where I can't refute it without fear of being held in contempt of court.

I pray for him every day -- pray that he'll accept himself as he really is, pray that he'll realize what a dangerous lifestyle he's chosen to live, pray that he will be honest with his sons. I'd like to get an apology from him for all the awful things he did and said to me. But I'm not holding my breath.

You're right -- there's not one answer, but given the vast number of men living on the downlow and the wives they're hurting, I hope SOME answer works for them.

Maggie - Yours is the kind of "horrible unfaithfulness (and the lies that go with it)" - the ultimate breach of trust that I mentioned. So wrong to be treated that way.

I'm glad that on this comment forum you can at least release your anger and broadcast how caught you are by that gag order. (I'm not sure how that can even be legal.)

It has helped me TREMENDOUSLY to start new things, a new job, and make new friends. I still have troubles, but I have new things to think about other than what I DON'T have any more. It really helps. If you can, think about volunteer work - I know hospital auxiliaries can always use help. Find something you are interested in, and pursue it. This really can be made into an opportunity, rather than only a stumbling block.

Carol--I just want to give you a big round of applause. This is such a wise and kind post! The next time I run into someone--on either side of the fence--who is facing this issue, I am going to send them the link to this post.

You did a wonderful job of elucidating what you lost when yours and Ray's lives moved in a different direction. Somehow, you were able to convey your pain and loneliness in general terms, which allows others like me to to understand how you feel, but your generalities also allow us to discern our own emotions. Bravo! That's a difficult balance to strike.

Right now, I can identify with your loneliness, and perhaps some of your frustration, when on your worst days you look around and go, "Is this really my life?"

I never thought I'd be an unemployed pastor for this long. I knew it would be hard for the church to accept a disabled, single, woman as a leader, but I also believe that God is bigger than all of that. I guess I'm just waiting for the church to figure that out. One more area where the church needs to broaden its horizons...-Jill V.Z.

I've started participating in an online chat group of straight wives. I've even met with two of them in person and it was amazing to talk face to face with someone who completely understood. I started with this group before the gag order was in place, so I can keep talking there. I may challenge it one day on the grounds that it impedes my psychological recovery but for now, I just figure folks can pretty much figure out for themselves what's going on.

I also do some church work and help out with some elderly neighbors. I've been looking for a job but haven't had any luck yet. If I wanted to flip burgers or work at Walmart I could probably get employment, but I do not want to do that. Something will come along though.

Carol, I have seen little on your blog or on the Internet about bisexuality. I am a male bisexual whose primary orientation is slanted more toward femals, which makes life simpler. I chose to stay married and concentrate on my hetero side, while trying to stand up for gay rights as well. I admire your grace and poise under pressure, and applaud you for your work with SoulForce, this blog, and any other avenues you choose. I still enjoy Ray's music, both the previous and the recent. Please continue your good work. I enjoy your posts, your thoughts and only have one minor complaint: I wish you would post a little more often.Mike (A nickname several people call me.)

Carol, I continue to be amazed by your grace-under-duress. I know it's been a while... but I also know that I was 15 years divorced before I came out, and the anger I received from my former spouse was as if we were still married. I am so glad you are willing to speak and share.

Perhaps an answer to "NOW what do I do?" is simply, "I can't tell you what to do. I can tell you what *I* was able to do, and how it worked out. But that may not be the same answer for others." Clearly, Maggie's experience and yours would require two entirely different responses.

Perhaps the only good answer to "What can I do?" is to simply rearrange the words to "Do what I can." Can I forgive him or her, yet? No? Then give it up to God and go on to the next thing that needs attention.

Maggie's situation makes me want to cry - the words "selfish, self centered, and self-seeking" leapt to mind. Her ex has the blond boy, but is living in fear of who might find out - and that fear helps create all kinds of destructive behaviors.

I'm sure, in some ways, you're "done like dinner" with these topics. Just don't delete this blog - I'm sure people will be referring to it for years to come.

I have been with my husband for 25 years....almost half of my entire life and we have two sons 17 and 21. I recently quit my job, cleaned out our old all by myself came to my "new life" "my new home" to be told that he had met someone while I was away and they are in love. Please help me because it hurts so bad I feel like my heart was yanked right out of my chest. All of this has happened within the last 3 weeks. We live in OUR new home but everynight he leaves me to go to him! I don't what to do.....I hate feeling so sick inside and the only thing that has kept me semi-together is I know he will always love me and tells me that every minute of the day. I feel as if I am throwing myself at him and looking like a fool as he takes advantage that to keep him close I am willing to let him be with the other man. The problem is when he does leave, I fall to pieces and make myself ill with the what if's. This can't be healthy at all. We still share the bed and still are intimate which makes me believe he is pretty damn selfish, self centered and outright mean to me. As much as I love loving him it makes it hurt even more! Again.....Can someone please give me an idea whether I should just bolt the door or live this life. I love him with all my heart and would die for him but he doesn't realize that it is him killing me. Yesterday, on my 49th birthday, I began the paperwork for a divorce while he was at dinner and a movie with his lover. What will happen next....?

Dear Anonymous (of 8/24) - I have read your heart wrenching account, and must leave for work without posting something. This is short, but please know that there are others of us who are aching for you. So sad, Carol

Well, it's different for everyone, but...if you are anything like I was, you will yo-yo a lot for a few months. I veered between desperation and dark-purple rage for a while--especially when my ex did the same thing yours is doing (going out with his lover while I was home alone).

My ex DID love me, and still does--but that did not keep him from hurting me badly. What I see now, with the distance of time, is that he was hurting too--hurting at having to hide who he was and having to deny what was/is an integral part of himself.

What he really wanted was for the three of us to take a house by the sea. I drew the line there and knew it was time to make the break.

You may decide differently, but I would STRONGLY encourage you to find a good therapist and a support group (in-person or online). Those were not available to me when I was going through my "dark night of the soul," but they have been lifesavers for many people I know.

I would also encourage you to insist on your husband using condoms if you are still intimate, and for both of you to get tested for HIV. I continued to have unprotected sex with my ex for months after I found out about his affairs because I was so depressed. Later, that caused me no end of worry. (Both my ex and I are HIV-negative, but neither of us knew that then...)

Like Carol, I have been able to build a new relationship with my ex. I'm sorry that you are in such pain now, and there is really no way out of that except through it. But from where I sit, on the other side of the pain, I can tell you that there *can be* light and healing at the end of the tunnel. I will pray for you that you come to find that...

Oh, Anonymous, my heart aches for you. I can't even imagine the betrayal.

But yes, I'm going to refer back to what Steve said, "Do what you can." I also might add that some people are toxic, and will always be toxic. It sounds to me like your ex has become toxic to you (big surprise!), and if that is the case, you need to GET OUT (of at least the house, for now). The marriage can be decided later.

But you need to think of yourself right now and what you can handle. You may think, "Well, what about his feelings?" I'm sorry, but he lost the right to any consideration from you when he wasn't straightforward with you. Yes, I understand he had to leave, but he should have left before he cheated on you.

My husband of 5 years came out of the closet to me in September of last year.. rage boiled in me at being betrayed and cheated.. compassion rose knowing how he had been fighting his self in trying to keep up appearances..And desperation crawled in knowing that my 2 year old is going to be product of a broken home...this rose above all else and we decided to have another go at life together.. I recently found out that he watches gay porn on websites and even after confrontation has not stopped.. he said he will give it a try.. I don't know what to do...whenever I think of my child I am racked with guilt about her growing up like this..when I think about my husband,i am guilty of holding him onto something that will not make him happy..I come from a very conservative Asian family and cannot discuss this matter with anyone...

I came across this site when I was desperate to find answers for my daughter, she found out her husband was gay 4 years ago, they have an 8 year old boy and she is still with him, he brings his " friends" home for dinners and bbq's . She is so desperately unhappy but dosnt have the strength to do anything, she still loves him but hates him at the same time, he has always put her down even before this happened, her self astern is so low it's breaking my heart to see her like this, she has no friends of her own they are all his friends, she is becoming a recluse, she thinks her only option is to leave a go overseas so it's not possible to have contact even if she wanted to. I can't bear the thought of her leaving the country with my grandson but feel so selfish stopping her, how can I help her

I found out two days ago that my husband is gay and he has been meeting men off of craigs list. We just moved to California and purchased our first home. I don't work and am in a state where I have no friends or family.How do I tell him that I know? How can I figure out what I am going to do with all of this?

My husband won't come out of the closet, but his phone and any computer he goes near are full of gay porn. He'll only admit to one gay sexual encounter years and years ago. He's a sad closet case who is ashamed of who he is - but what about me?! We have an 11 month old son. I want my life, but I can only have it if I live a lie. I can never trust him. Never. Sorry, you have no answers for me but no one knows about this - and no one I know would understand if I told them. :'(

I just went through my husband's phone! His work called home looking for him while he told me he is was working.He had there pictures of a naked man that I don't know and conversation with him that I can't repeat in public!!. I just realized he is a gay!!.We have beeen married for 19years and we have 2 kids. I am lost. I want to confront him but I am affraid my kids especially my son (17) wont take this easy. What should I do? I am in nursing school right noe and I can't afford to divorce this man now!!!

Wow, you have a lot to consider, and I'm sure you are a wreck. I can't say enough to you as to what to do, but you certainly should weigh your options before you do anything rash.

While I can't say what is the right thing to do, I'm sure you are about to either explode or implode. Try to think before you decide. I'm not a counselor, and you truly need one. I'm so sorry this has happened to you.

This blog has helped immensely... Have been forced out of the marital home (he owns it) and only see my four year-old one week in two (co-parenting is the law in the country I moved abroad to to be with him...). Luckily I have a job and friends... but I am struggling to find the positive side of things...

Love: Hi, I want to share my story. I am depressed I spend all my day crying or sleeping in bed. I got married after 6 years love story. I loved him from the bottom of my heart. we got married but he didn't touch me or come near me. he was disgusted of me. he treated me badly for 3 months, then he divorced me and went on vacation. I miss him badly and I love him and i don't know what happened...why he hated me out of a sudden, why he didn't touch me or hug me or kiss me, why he treated me that way...I don't know..

I found out for sure 5 months ago and it still hurts everyday. I'm thankful I am 32 and not 62 finding out but it doesn't really matter I think I'm so emotionally messed up I'll never have a life again. 8 years and two little children with the love of my life spent wondering why am I not good enough? Being blamed for everything, constantly trying to be better, wondering why he left me every couple of months without a care in the world while I was devastated. Now since I found out and left him for good he has his and my family believing I'm crazy and Dillusional! My own mother spent believe me, no support at all. They support him! He's been emotionally and physically abusive in the relationship I'm so screwed up he's ruined my life. He's turned my family against me and now is taking me to court to fight over the kids. How does someone do this to a person who has loved them more than anything!!!!!!! ????? I can't find any other women to talk to in person here in San bernardino county California and I'm a wreck taking Care of my two kids, one with special needs. In the court papers he served me its lie after lie after lie! How do they do this ? :( I'm barely hanging on

When I hear the painful stories, it all resonates with how awful it feels to have loved someone so very, very much. Receiving the shock of it, trying to sort it, it all just comes in waves and waves and waves, and I know it feels like you can't stand up.

I'm here to tell you that you CAN get up and face each day, you CAN find a way to keep living. YOU have done nothing wrong to cause him to be gay, nor to cause him to cheat. No matter what your family, or his family, or ANYONE ELSE says, YOU get a pass on this one! It may sound like I'm presenting a formula response, but I mean it! You are going to survive this!

I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Be encouraged. Go forward one little step at a time. It will get better even if it seems like it's getting worse. You will come though this a better, stronger, wiser person, and I hope against hope that you will have that love to give again.

I have only just found out my husband is gay my head is so messed up but so is his I know he has not done anything about it out of respect for me and I know he still loves me but I know he also needs to find himself which scares me so much the worst thing is when your still so much in love and can't shut off that feeling neither of us wants a divorce right now and the weird thing is we get on better now I know it's hard because our marriage has never been about sex it's only when the cuddles and talking stopped I confronted him with what was wrong never expected the answer I gt

I found out that my husband chats with gays and watches gay porn. He always thinks about himself. I have 4 years old daughter and no family in US. Our marriage was arranged and we are marred 7 years. I confessed him and he was so angry and i am afraid he can abuse me. He hides from culture and family. My immigration case still pending and i feel so scared,lost and he controls every my steps,no respect and he hates me. I am from muslim family but i became Christian and nobody in my family knows. I don't know what to do....so scared,lost...

I am a former military wife and mother of an almost two year old. I am 27 years old and married almost 5 years. I feel as though my life is completely fallling apart. My husband told me, outright today that he has an interest in men. He has never been with one and says he isn't actually gay, that he would never want to be in a relationship with a man. I don't know if it is experimentation he is interested in or what. But over the course of our marriage I have continually found stuff online,porn,obscene pictures on the family computer of men. Its been insane. I have been a good,supportive,loyal wife throughout our marriage and have forgiven him in the past but I have found that I can't do it anymore. I am heartbroken to realize my marriage is over and that my son will have to grow up with divorced parents, I hate it. I feel so powerless in this situation. My husband wants to stay married to me, because I do feel he truly loves me. But I am unable to accept this about him. I feel like part of my life has been wasted, like I have been robbed of my marriage. I feel like my son has been robbed of being raised with both of his parents. I feel angry and confused and I am not sure of what to do now. I know this is something that really bothers me and that I am unable to accept it. But I love him so much, we have a beautiful happy son together and the thought of not raising him together is absolutely devastating. I'm confused and angry and need help.

I am a bisexual man in his 30s. I have never so much as kissed another man ir even discussed this with another living soul. I have had a couple of heterosexual relationships but met the love of my life a few years ago. She is the most wonderful, sexy, caring and fun loving person i have ever met and i fell head over heels for her very quickly. We finally married a year ago and it was the best day of my life.

The problem is she does not know that i am also attracted to men. Since our wedding i have Developed an enormous amount of guilt for keeping this from her. I cannot tell her as it would break her. I just cant lose her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her she is my soulmate.

The guilt is making me depressed and has been affecting our sex life. I will never cheat on her with a man or woman but i know i am miserable and so is she. How can i get past this guilt witjout hurting her even more. Your advice would be most appreciated as the whole thing is tearing me apart. I dont wanna hurt or lose my girl.

It's very heart wrenching to read these posts which I can relate to. Although from a different perspective than most of you. My wife of 10 years has since told me of her thinking she might be gay. Years of being a happy family of 4 and trying desperatly to be better and wondering why I'm not good enough I can relate to. Remembering all the awkardness that has been and the feeling that something was not quite there. Have left me absolutley heart broken. Whats even worse is its not officially over because she's not totally sure. She still loves me and wants us to work but says how can we if we don't fit sexually. I find myself wondering there's only one way for her to truly know if she is, and worry constantly that that is what she'll do. I can't sleep, eat, work properly, I fear for my health if I have to go on. But I love her and want no one else. Even after finding out you've been living a lie for a decade, believing that yes sometimes things are difficult, but at least we have each other, we will work through it. It's just too much to deal with. I really cant find many out there that have shared my experinece. To have suspictions shes gay but either of you not really sure, and wanting to keep things going. Argggghh!is what I want to do every minute of every day.

I just found out this week that my husband is gay. I found out on monday that money was missing and that a loan had been taken out. when i called him to ask him about it he said that his father had borrowed and needed the money. when he came home from work that night, he said that he wanted to be honest with me and that he had been giving money to someone for a vehicle. and that there was somehting else he needed to tell me.... he says "I am gay, I think I am, and i have been dealing with this since i was 14" I was soo mad, angry, hurt, i still am, when i think about it, it makes me sick to my stomach. I feel stupid, how did i not know. I love him with all of my heart, we are both involved in church and he is a "saved christian" i am just doubting everything now. I thought he was who God had made for me and I was who God had made for him. i feel so betrayed, he has had so many opportunities to tell me the truth and has just lied. I love him no matter what and i still hope that we can remain together. we started marriage counseling today, and it was also his idea. Do you think that we can still remain together with him being so confused as he puts it?? we have 2 small children and i know they should be put first, so should we just divorce?? I Love him soo much that divorce, that word just hurts as much as everything else. so lost and not knowing where to turn or what to do....any prayers and advice is welcome

I have just found out my husband of 18 years is gay. I have never felt so devastated in my life before. I turned 50yrs old this year so I feel the best years of my life are past and I have nothing. He has lied to me constantly and cheated with other women through out our marriage but always made me believe it was never full sex so not 'that bad' but now he has admitted to 'messing about' in mens toilet on several occasions and the porn online. I feel like I never knew him and our life was all a lie. He wants me to let him live with me to take care of me as a lodger but I am so afraid to let him back in

This february its going to be 2yrs since my husband told me he's gay or as he put it never been attracted to a female. He says he loves me, i have been the only women he's been attracted to and the sex wouldn't tell me any different. We have the same faith and i thought the same understanding about this in our faith. A lot of my family live a homosexual life style and i love them all the same but i had told him i didn't want any part of that in my personal life(when we were just friends).

Before these past 2 yrs there was things starting to get weird, slip and i wondered. So now after 9 in a half years of marriage and three kids he tells me the truth. Since then i've been angry, disgusted, depressed, crying, sleeping more then usual. For almost 3yrs now he has been going to school and working an hour away from our home which doesn't make the trust or our relationship any easier. I haven't worked for 10yrs outside the home, in my life time I have only worked 2 jobs for a yr each starting at 18yrs old. I won't be able to afford half of what he can even with 2 jobs and he has family that can/will help him in every way possible.

I too love him very much and he wants to stay married. I don't know what is behind his reason for staying because i don't trust him. Is he gonna keep hiding? is he scared to live that life? he doesn't want to look bad in others peoples eyes? whats the reason for staying, really? So i have decided to stay till he at least finishes school. After that honestly i have no idea, i go back n forth. I honestly don't think i can stay with a man who is into men. I honestly love him and want the life that i had expected with him. Do i let the repetition go on that he gets what he wants and i get the left overs, the less then what i deserve or lose most of what i got, start from scratch with 3kids and a distrustful heart for men.

This will be my 2nd marriage unfortunately at the age of 28. 1st one cheating and abusive in every way and now gay, can't imagine what could come next. This relationship simply doesn't make sense in the first place. He knew what was there and if men or women are unsure they shouldn't marry anyone. Figure yourself out before adding another person to figure. People wanna point fingers and do the blame game for why they did what they did.

I know they say they love you but lying for this many years doesn't sound like love at all. Its total selfishness and it becomes more that way every time they had to hide what was really going on. I wasn't only hurt by my husband but by my best friend. I was an open book from the beginning and in my wrongs. I thought i had received the same, so 2 relationships were broken and that sucks cause they were good ones.

My husband came out to me a long time ago that he was bi and I loved him so much I didn't care we had been together for atleast 4 yrs at that point. We got married and had 2 beautiful children and they are my world however he came out to me again wanting to have "playtime" but he still wanted me. Then he says he is completely gay and has no attraction to women and never has. My heart broke in half. Our friends and families know that he is bi but that is it. We just bought a house but my name isn't on it. What do I do I am so heartbroken I can't stop crying

I married my husband 8 years ago. He and I were both in dark places in our lives. I was stupid and believed him and trusted him. I met him on a sex site I had just signed up on. He was my first. He told me in the beginning it was going role playing. Then it went to having another guy younger then him while he watched. There are two things I found out through this. One he was using another man to be with me when he was broken out with herpes. Two that he had already been with men for awhile but playing off that this was all new to him. At some point he stated he might be gay and wanted to explore it. I told him before we go any further I want him to explore it as well so he knows for sure. He came back saying he was not gay and wanted to get married. I did it. I quit my job of 15 years. Sold my house and moved away from all my family to be with him. Right after we got married he tells me he use to bring young men over to his ex-wives house. This scared the hell out of me. It was all lies. I was groomed and used. I had then given him 60 thousand dollars and only to find out his house was going into foreclosure. He was sinking fast and never told me until it was way too far to do anything about it. I had offered to pay off the second from the get go so if anything ever did come up we only had the first to worry about. He refused saying he wanted money at hand just in case. All together I burned through 120 thousand dollars. 30 thousand of it I spent pretty much out of anger and pain. I have sense then lost my ability to work due to physical issues. My children and grandchildren will have nothing to do with me once they found out what he had done and I refused to leave him. I felt he was getting too old to do much of anything soon and it will get better. Now he has his son move in a month ago. He uses his son for his own agenda. Women to abuse, pot to smoke. He will never tell his son he likes men. Once I refused to have sex with other men, he refused to have sex with me. We have not had sex in about 6 and half years. For a while he would have men come over and go into the guest room with them while I stayed in our master bedroom. He would give me his credit card and tell me to spend a 100 bucks on myself for putting up with it. I started taking pictures of the license plates and vehicles and saving emails from him to men in the thought of leaving him. I have become so angry of all I lost and gave up for this monster it is like I just want him to pay for it by not leaving him. Now that his son is here he does not need my company anymore so he can care less if I leave. I have no family now. I went from being independent and owning three properties to having no car, no home, no family and no job. The one thing I do have is my dog. She keeps me alive. I know this is deep and more then most would want to read about but I know I am not alone. The shame of what I put myself through would silence me and I know it does others too. That is what these monsters bank on. Silence controls you. Silence will imprison you. I have told medical doctors, therapist. There is nothing they can do if I wont leave. I have been homeless before. I am too old to start over AGAIN. My third marriage and his sixth.

I too recently found out that my husband of nearly 39 years was living the gay life. I am devastated by the betrayal and lies. At age 66, and a retired school teacher, I have few income options. We have two adult children and I just am trying to hold myself together. This isn't what I anticipated for my "golden" years. Thanks to a great therapist and lawyer, I am getting my "ducks lined up" before I confront his sorry @### and craigslist lifestyle. I would even suggest a trusted friend. I think he may find that it will take money(his) to find peace(mine).

I learned today that my husband of 20 years is gay. He has known for at least 10 years. We adopted 3 children at year 7. Our intimacy dwindled soon after they arrived. I thought for many years that I was a repulsive and annoying wife, merely unattractive to my husband. His distance and workaholic tendencies did not set off alarm bells regarding his sexuality and I was quite sure he was not being unfaithful. However, my loneliness and his lack of support caused me to nearly leave at year 12. I ultimately stuck it out for the kids sake.

I am now ending my 52nd year, cannot work due to the high needs of our three autistic children and am completely dependent upon my husband financially. I believe he will be honorable and mature and not drive off into the sunset with a boy toy just yet, but I don't our future is no longer secure. I certainly did not plan on being alone in my final years. I think that is just what is going to happen.

The pain, loneliness and sadness is unbearable tonight. We have been through many many difficult times, but this may be the sinking of the ship.

I am not angry at him for causing me 20 years of loneliness and lies and secrecy. I feel his pain, trying to hide who he really is, must have been so excruciatingly difficult for him. But I do think he can have a happy ending, as he a really handsome and lovely 55 year old man. I on the other hand look haggard and am exhausted by parenting in essence nearly alone all these years, while he threw himself into work to avoid confronting the reality of his sexuality. It is strange to look from the inside out on something that I never really comprehended would happen to me.

I do not for the life of me know how or when to tell our teenaged children. They already have so much on their plate. It would have been so much easier for them to have grown up knowing their dad was gay.

I have to start looking for a therapist for us to begin discussions about the kids, and if he can even stay with us at this point. I thought I'd feel relief understanding his distance, but it is incredibly painful.

It breaks my heart to read all of these posts......It also breaks my heart and makes me feel horrible that I am happy to know that I am not alone in my despair.

I just found out my husband has had sexual relations with other men, and has probably been doing that for the past 6mo's to a year. In addition to that, I believe he has had affairs with other women prior to his engaging in sex with men.

I unfortunately came across the website CL on his computer, which showed he had visited the MSM website, along with the MSW and Casual Affairs. I decided to delete it and see if he went to that section again. Knowing that if I did, it would be evident that he was clearly seeking a sexual encounter with a man. Sure enough, the following month it was again highlighted and showed he had viewed numerous photos of men....NO WOMEN this time! My husband leaves town monthly for 2-3 nights and always makes sure we are aware to not contact him as it is his time to not be bothered and its his time to have some fresh air. However, over the past year, I have seen my husband come home with a rash in his groin area that has persisted for almost two years...He comes home extremely tired the past 3 months claiming the hotel had booked bus loads of kids or tourists.....However, I found that he had immediately went onto CL after checking into the hotel, and again at midnight that evening. As well as each time he came back from running his errands for the day....To top it off....HE CAME HOME WITH HIS PRIVATE AREAS FULLY SHAVED and didn't even comment as to why he did it. When I had the nerve to ask him, he told me he didn't shave, he just trimmed it because he doesn't like the gray hair....(he's 54). Now I know the difference between a trim and a babies butt smooth shave job....WHY DID HE LIE IF THERE WASN'T A REASON FOR IT!! I am so disgusted knowing he has been lying to me and sneaking around to have sex with multiple people of multiple sexes. At this point, I think it is just men. I believe he is looking for a relationship that makes him feel there is no woman questioning him on ANYTHING! I am very subservient to my husband and I have always allowed him to be the man of the house. However, he is now (past 2 years) being an absolute jerk and doesn't care if he hurts my feelings or whether or not my needs are taken care of.

He has changed many things about himself over the past few years, and during our 34 year marriage, he goes thru periods of being a super jerk and wanting a divorce about every 4-6 years.....Is this common for someone that is gay and trying to live a straight life?

I really need some good advice.....I learned of this about 6 weeks ago, but am so afraid to bring it up because I know he will just lie about it and try to make me sound like I'm crazy. He has already tried to do damage control by bringing my kids into it by telling them he knew I had been snooping on his computer so he gave me something to look at....I did not snoop and I came by it honestly during some computer issues.

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